I have three pairs of the Crampons. Two of the Ultimates and one of the older styles. They are awesome pedals. With the Ultimates there are enough pin placement options that you really can custom tune the grip. and CS a Canfield is awesome if you ever need it.

Point-1 Podium - pretty much the gold standard - however pricey and concerns about the little end bearing

They would be, if the little bearing wouldn't explode so quickly. While I do like my Podiums from last season, it was time to try something new this year, something that won't require a rebuild after 4 months of riding, plus they sure are pricey like you said. And Point1's customer service can also be tricky trying to get a hold of and getting a response. But when you do, they are awesome in helping you out with the product. I'm still on the fence about selling my brand new pair that I have sitting here as a back up.

As for the Ultimates, with a size 12, the platform will be on the smaller side for you. Plus having owned a pair of HT AEO1 EVO, I'm not sold on the concept of the super small bearing that they Crampon Ultimate uses as well near the end of the axle. I sold my HT before any long usage but people have reported it goes south pretty quick, lots of play. The Crampon Ultimate looks no different from that end, although Canfield said it's a different type of bearing underneath that metal cap. But like I said, the HT platform size was small, similar to the Ultimate.

But I would give the DMR Vault pedal a look, half the price of the Podiums, but oh my, what a difference in platform size. Here are my first impressions of them from the Platform Pedal Shootout thread:

Originally Posted by eurospek

So my DMR Vaults came in yesterday from wiggle.co.uk and first impressions are everything right? These pedals look so good in person, much nicer overall finish than my raw Podiums. I opted for the silver finish to hide rock strikes and scratches just like my raw Podiums did (and I needed a raw/silver finish to complement my color scheme on the Honzo). And it was hard to pass on the other 9 brilliant color options available, but luckily there's something for everyone and was really tempted by the magenta and green apple to be honest.

What stands out the most from initial observations is how much more room I'll have for my size 11.5 feet with these. The platform is bigger in every aspect, and no longer the bearing bulge like the Podiums had near the end which I have gotten used to by now. Second shocker came with how the DMR Vaults concave in the middle, it's the first flat pedal that I've own that really has this (and I've owned most of the key players- HT AN01 series, Kona Wah Wah, HT AE01 EVO, Forte Convert (another HT Nano copy), Point1 Podiums). None of the online pictures really depicts this, it's awesome in person. And zero drag. While these do not spin freely, definitely not as stiff to spin like the Podiums. And while the Vaults are 17mm thin, they don't look much thicker than the 11mm Podiums, I doubt I'll see any difference on the trail in this regard. Lastly threw the pedals on the scale, the Podium with extra long steel pins was 179g, the Vault pedal tipped in at 212g per pedal.

I'll update more once I get some trail time with these pedals, but super stoked so far with the decision. Anyone looking for Podiums?

New Flats... Spike, Podium, Crampon-ulltimate, or ?

The Vaults look like really sweet pedals, but they have one feature that would keep me from considering them- it looks like the pins screw in from the bottom of the pedal and have to be backed out the same way in order to remove/change them. If you bend one, it's Dremel time. I can't quite make out how thick the pins are or how likely that is, but it's something I look at.

Rock strikes are a fact of life for me here. I had the twenty6 Rallye pedals, and got tired of dealing with the bent pins. The newer generation twenty6 pedals, Prerunners and Predators, don't have that problem since you back the pins in from the bottom, but I go through a set of pins in roughly a year and a half. The Crampon Ultimates have hit the happy spot for me. The pins can be advanced from the bottom to remove, but I've never bent one. They've proved pretty strong, I haven't bent or lost a pin, they're super thin and they also come in a wide range of colors.

I like the really wide platform of the Predators, but I've never felt the Ultimates were too small for me. Size 12 Impacts, for reference. They aren't as grippy as the Predators, but they're grippy enough. I think the convex works, btw, with the way your foot flexes over the pedal. It also allows for thinner edges.

I like the Podiums the best as they provide grip and foot adjustment pivot. I replace the bearings - simple and easy may be around 9 months - depends on use. These pedals just work well.

Twenty6 Pedals - I wouldn't get the pedals with the visible axle nub. I broke Twenty6 pedal on a big drop, sent me flying and luckily the numb didn't go through my leg. I have the twenty6 pedals without the visible axle nub and I like them a lot and tend to use them for XCing/AMing.

Camprons - nice design, etc, but found my feet slip occasionally with them. I had to adjust a little with respect to this, where as with the Podiums and Twenty6 - never an issue.

In the end, can't go wrong, but based on experience I prefer the Podiums.

Looks like the Crampon-Ultimates may be an issue.
Raw frame - so want to go with black or grey.
No grey colour.
Black not due until May, so looking mid May at the earliest to get a pair up to Kanukistan.

The Vaults were on teh list, but they are a bit thicker at 17mm.
I really like the feeling of the 12mm Spikes over the 17mm pedals I have in the parts box.

New Flats... Spike, Podium, Crampon-ulltimate, or ?

Originally Posted by mykel

Looks like the Crampon-Ultimates may be an issue.
Raw frame - so want to go with black or grey.
No grey colour.
Black not due until May, so looking mid May at the earliest to get a pair up to Kanukistan.

According to their FB, the mag Ultimates are available now, in both black and grey. $50 more, though.

New Flats... Spike, Podium, Crampon-ulltimate, or ?

I remember someone from Canfield mentioning mag pedals or pins and posting about how cool it will be to see sparks from rock strikes. But having raced a fire out of a drainage last summer I'm already paranoid enough about fire seasons...

$150 is my top end, too. Spanks also get a lot of good word of mouth around here, btw. I don't think you'll go too wrong with anything you choose out of the ones you're considering.

I'm a sucker for Chromag, and I'm interested in hearing more about the Scarabs myself. The Hope pedals looked cool when they showed them as prototypes a year or so ago, but I think the pedal market has kind of moved past them in the meantime. Like you wondered, they look a bit thick to me as well.

Exact same pedal as the DMR Vault, but blacked out color scheme, and slightly different pins. As for pedal body and thickness, nothing has changed from your regular DMR Vault which can be purchased quite cheaper.

Exact same pedal as the DMR Vault, but blacked out color scheme, and slightly different pins. As for pedal body and thickness, nothing has changed from your regular DMR Vault which can be purchased quite cheaper.

Yeh but they look cool. As for the pins they can be screwed in either way round , also different pin designs available to fit the Vaults.

Ended up going with the Spikes again.
Well, actually my wife made the decision.
Had mentioned that I was leaning toward the Spike, as I have a pair and am happy with them.
So, she went and ordered them.
Then Eurospek offered me his old raw Podiums with brand-new bearings shipped for a good price.

I've been considering these as well however I've been reading a lot about wearing of the pins after initial use. Also it my be a nuisance to have your pins snapping all the time but I appreciate the idea behind it.

The pedals that I currently like are (in no particular order): Spank Spike, Shimano Saint, Point1. I just pre-ordered the Point1 v.2 (due in March) for the race bike, but the Spank Spike and Saint are what I would prefer for everyday riding, Whistler, etc.